| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on April 6, 2009 |
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Brethren -
Even with the exciting new challenges of being Master of Los Altos Lodge No. 712 this year, I have nonetheless felt somewhat sad to witness the events taking place around us. The economic conditions surrounding all of us, have not left the Lodge untouched.
We must address issues of costs in order to minimize them and to maximize all potential revenues. That in mind, please read and understand the new meal reservation policy on page 10 [below].
We have several events upcoming that have always been enjoyable and should continue to be so. Make your reservations for the “Almost Annual” Crab Feed on March 16th and the Morgan Hill Chicken Feed on March 19th. If you want to go, but do not have a ride, give me a call and we will see if we can arrange for someone to pick you up.
We are planning a Master’s Trip to the Mendocino Coast in August where we will visit the historic Mendocino Masonic Lodge and have a very enjoyable get away for a weekend. Further details to follow.
See you soon at Lodge!
Sincerely and fraternally,
Bob Rowan - Master
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It is so rare to be offered a meal on airlines these days that I was surprised to hear the flight attendant ask the man sitting in front of me, "Would you like dinner?"
"What are my choices?" he responded.
"Yes or no," she said.
My brothers, we are off to a fast start. February began with a stated meeting followed by a super bowl party, a sweetheart’s dinner, and a memorial service at the Masonic Home for Worshipful Sterling Bailey all in one week. After serving as Master of a small lodge I knew Los Altos would require a lot of time and dedication but this is really moving at a lightening pace for me. One of my tasks in preparing for next year, is to look over the 2009 budget projections and other lodge finance reports in detail. After I began this process I realize just how much I have to learn. I hope you will all have a little patience as I begin the process of understanding how these reports will influence next year’s decisions and budget. Worshipful Rowan has tasked me with a few jobs that I hope will better prepare me for this challenge. He has also suggested that the officers all take the Grand Lodge class on finances.
We have a wonderful stated meeting dinner program that is not receiving the support it needs. The primary problem is that not enough brothers are coming or making reservations. This of course is not new to Masonry. We have become a fraternity that, for the most part, does not bother to make reservations or even respond to RSVP requests. We need to change or costs will escalate and become out-of-hand. I don’t have any magic answers to this problem other than to ask you once again to please call in and make reservations for our events.
From the Southern California
Research Lodge F&AM:
ADAPTABILITY “Inflexibility is one of the worst human failings. You can learn to check impetuosity, overcome fear with confidence, and laziness with discipline. But for rigidity of mind there is no antidote. It carries the seeds of its own destruction.” AnonymousIf you have not attended lodge in some time, please come. If you have not attended a dinner, please come. If you are asked for an RSVP, please do so.
This is your lodge; don’t let it fade away as many have done.
Bobbie Byers
Senior Warden
Brethren,
Brothers, allow me a few moments to outline a serious and troubling problem - our lodge dinners. We have, perhaps, the best lodge dinners in the area. Brothers Malmstrom and Gable, bust their bottoms to make these dinners special.
So, here are some of the problems.
Many brothers show up without making reservations. Bill and Jim have no idea how many dinners to make. For instance at the last dinner, 32 people showed up and Bill and Jim had cooked 40 dinners. Not only did they do extra work, but we had the extra expense of 8 dinners. This is not fair to those who attended.
To help contain the increasing costs, and effective at the March 2nd dinners will cost $12 per meal with advanced reservations, and $15 without one. A brother may pay $120 at the March meeting and get automatic reservations for the rest of the year. Those who prepaid in January will not be asked to pay any additional amounts. The reservation policy is outlined in the Trestle board.
There seems to be some misunderstanding that if you bring guests, the Lodge will pay for them. Allow me to clarify. The only people who would get free meals will be our Sweethearts. If a brother brings a guest, (spouse, friend or potential member), the hosting Brother will be expected to pay for the meal.
If you make reservation, you will precede those who have not, and will precede in line those who did not make one. I have been assured by our cooks that if they run out of prepared meals, that those who did not make reservations will still be fed, but probably something different.
I have been to other lodges dinners. They seem to have no difficulty in getting reservations nor in charging $15 or more per meal even with reservations which brings me to my next point. When was the last time one of us brought a friend and potential member to a lodge dinner. These outstanding meals are a GREAT opportunity to introduce new and prospective members to our lodge and the fellowship of Freemasonry. I have attended Pleasanton Lodge’s stated meeting dinners, twice now. Both times, they had new potential members, and even those potential member’s families in attendance. They are doing degrees almost every week, and part of their success is using their stated meeting dinners as an opportunity to share with prospective members the fellowship of Freemasonry.
Lastly, I hope this new policy will help contain our costs and reduce unnecessary work of our lodge dinners. If this new policy creates a significant hardship to any brother, please come talk to me, I am sure we can figure out how to make this best to work and to best agree.
David Anderson
Junior Warden-Elect
The person who was to become St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was born in Wales about AD 385. His given name was Maewyn, and he almost didn't get the job of bishop of Ireland because he lacked the required scholarship.
Far from being a saint, until he was 16, he considered himself a pagan.
At that age, he was sold into slavery by a group of Irish marauders that raided his village. During his captivity, he became closer to God.
He escaped from slavery after six years and went to Gaul where he studied in the monastery under St. Germain, bishop of Auxerre for a period of twelve years. During his training he became aware that his calling was to convert the pagans to Christianity.
His wishes were to return to Ireland, to convert the native pagans to Christianity. But his superiors instead appointed St. Palladius. But two years later, Palladius transferred to Scotland. Patrick, having adopted that Christian name earlier, was then appointed as second bishop to Ireland.
Patrick was quite successful at winning converts. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids. Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time. He traveled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries across the country. He also set up schools and churches which would aid him in his conversion of the Irish country to Christianity.
His mission in Ireland lasted for thirty years. After that time, Patrick retired to County Down. He died on March 17 in AD 461. That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.
Much Irish folklore surrounds St. Patrick's Day. Not much of it is actually substantiated.
Some of this lore includes the belief that Patrick raised people from the dead. He also is said to have given a sermon from a hilltop that drove all the snakes from Ireland. Of course, no snakes were ever native to Ireland, and some people think this is a metaphor for the conversion of the pagans. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.
One traditional icon of the day is the shamrock. And this stems from a more bona fide Irish tale that tells how Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock to explain the Trinity. He used it in his sermons to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity. His followers adopted the custom of wearing a shamrock on his feast day.
The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737. That was the first year St. Patrick's Day was publicly celebrated in this country, in Boston.
Today, people celebrate the day with parades, wearing of the green, and drinking beer. One reason St. Patrick's Day might have become so popular is that it takes place just a few days before the first day of spring. One might say it has become the first green of spring.
Copyright © 1999, 2005 by Jerry Wilson.
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Question: Why can’t you borrow money from a leprechaun?
Answer: Because they’re always a little short.
Question: How can you tell if an Irishman is having a good time?
Answer: He’s Dublin over with laughter!
Question: What do leprechauns love to barbecue?
Answer: Short ribs!
If you have not sent your dues payment for 2009, you are not in good standing, and therefore, not entitled to Masonic Priveleges. Please remit ASAP.
Los Altos Lodge No. 712 Presents its “Almost Annual” Crab Feed with all the trimmings Monday March 16th @ 7:00 PM Cost $30.00 per person Reservations are required by March 10th @ 5:00 PM Call W.M. Bob Rowan @ 408-978-7483 (W) Or 408-306-8657 (cell)
It becomes necessary in this economic climate to avoid wasted monies in the operation of our Lodge. If we continue without some attention to this necessary evil, we will not maintain our existence without making very substantial increases in dues structure. This is not acceptable. It is also not acceptable for us to guess at the attendance for meals. The food must be purchased, prepared and served. We have been preparing for 40 meals for our stated meeting dinners because that has been the “informal count”. On an average for last year we had 30 or less show up for dinner. In other words, the Lodge was underwriting the cost for the 25% who were “no-shows”.
Beginning with the April stated meeting, reservations for dinner will have priority and will cost $12.00 per meal. We will prepare for the reservations made plus 10%. If you do not have a reservation, and there is enough food prepared for your meal, your cost will be $15.00. (There will be no change in cost for those with annual dinner tickets.)
If you make a reservation and do not attend or cancel, the treasurer will send you a bill and expect you to remit the balance due.
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